Hi I booked SBB train from Zurich to Grindelwald for my family on specific day and time , but when I pay on SBB mobile I received the 5 Saver day pass ticket without timing of the train only the day . I need to travel on specific exact time 13:00 hrs only . So how can I travel on that specific time and how to select the seats and how to insure that will be enough seats available. Thank you .

Hello @"Roothurroott63"#p72801 Albeit you have selected a particular connection, the Saver Day Pass is valid on any public transport service on the passes' date of validity. On Swiss trains, there is usually free seating, this is why your tickets do not have seat assignments, and besides the fact that your ticket is valid on any train anyway. Swiss trains are a form of mass transit, similar to suburban trains in other countries. As a result, you are welcome to take any vacant seat in your respective travel class. If you want to sit next to someone you don’t know, it’s courteous to ask if the seat is available before sitting down. You will see once you are here how easy it is to use the Swiss public transport. Should you reserve a seat? Except for certain panoramic trains (PE), seat reservations on Swiss trains are completely optional and not very common. Swiss people usually make seat reservations when they would like to eat in the dining car, when they travel as a group of 10 or more, or when many travelers are expected. → If you still want to reserve your seat, kindly note that this is possible for IC, ICE, EC, IR, RJX, and TGV connections only: [Seat reservations in trains and dining cars | SBB](https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/tickets/point-to-point-tickets-switzerland/seat-reservations.html). The seat reservation is like a ticket add-on, but the system won’t check if there’s a ticket number. All clear so far? Kind regards, Roland

Thank you Roland Very clear and useful information I do appreciate your reply. I’m concerned how I can make sure that there is enough seat available at 13:00 hrs train on that day as I should take it and not the next one because it’s the only one suits my schedule , when I booked the time it was on top of the page and after payment I received the ticket with open day and SBB don’t have customers support email.

@"Roothurroott63"#p72825 Thank you Roland Very clear and useful information I do appreciate your reply. I’m concerned how can I make sure that there is enough seat available at 13:00 hrs train on that day as I should take it and not the next one because it’s the only one suits my schedule , when I booked I select the time and it was on top of the page and after payment I received the ticket with open day and SBB don’t have customers support email.

Hello @"Roothurroott63"#p72831 It is true; on Swiss trains, there is no guarantee for a seat, as the ticket includes the transportation only. However, I can assure you that our trains have a plenty of seats left, especially during the day. The more to the front (sectors C / D) you are going to board the train, the more left seats you will find. If you look up a connection, you will see three human icons; they give you an indication about the seat load factor on each coach. You can rely on this information. The booking engine requires you to select a connection and departure time in order to calculate the best ticket offer. The Saver Day Pass is the most inexpensive ticket for long distances, this is why the booking engine came up with this proposition. Kind regards, Roland

@"RolandP"#p72848 Thank you Roland for your great support, what a relief. My last question because we are traveling as 5 family member's from Zurich to Grindelwald with our 5 suites case and reserved on the first class and we hope that we have space for luggage and is the 6 minutes transfer ( change train ) at Interlaken will be enough to shift our luggage . Thank you again and appreciate your reply .

@"Roothurroott63"#p72801 Thank you Roland for your great support, what a relief. My last question because we are traveling as 5 family member’s from Zurich to Grindelwald with our 5 suites case and reserved on the first class and we hope that we have space for luggage and is the 6 minutes transfer ( change train ) at Interlaken will be enough to shift our luggage . Thank you again and appreciate your reply .

Hello @"Roothurroott63"#p72885 Yes, this change of platforms is easily doable, and you will not be the only passengers doing this transfer. Another positive news, as you are travelling in first class, in Interlaken Ost, the first class coaches will be next to the stairs / ramp taking you to platform 2. Have a good trip; please let us know if you have got more queries. Kind regards, Roland

@"RolandP"#p72887 Thank you a lot . 💐

How to select train time and seat with saver day pass

Roothurroott63

I got Excellent feedback and my advice for future train trips to book the day saver pass which give you flexibility with your selection of destination and timing as you can take any train any time but during the specific day from 00:00 hrs till next day . Regarding seat reservations no need to do that as there will be many seats available but if you need to do that Swiss trips planning to provide seats reservation from April 2024 .

RolandP

Thank you Roothurroott63 for the feedback. We remain at your disposal if you need further advice.

Happy festive season and best wishes for 2024.

Roland

aptli

RolandP Hi Roland, thank you for sharing the info (as well thanks to the OP who created this inquiry). we also just order the Swiss Half Fare Card, but feel very confused whether it is considered as “Half Fare Travelcard” because the “Saver Day Pass for Half Fare Travelcard” self explains the fare price is for “Half Fare Travelcard”. Can our Swiss Half fare card be used to order the “Saver Day Pass for Half Fare Travelcard” and that we wouldn’t get fined by inspectors because they are different names: Swiss Half Fare Card vs Half Fare Travelcard? Please advise. TIA

RolandP

Hello aptli

The Swiss Half Fare Card and the Half Fare Card are one and the same product:

The Swiss Half Fare Card is for tourists
The Half Fare Card is for residents.

The Swiss Half Fare Card is not mentioned explicitly; however, when you see the Half Fare Card notion, it includes the Swiss Half Fare Card.

If you will have the Swiss Half Fare Card, you are welcome to purchase Saver Day Passes with Half Fare Card.

Kind regards,
Roland

aptli

RolandP Great! Thank you for the clarification. We have also purchased some Saver Day Passes in both 1st and 2nd classes, and we understood that we wouldn’t need to make any seat reservations for the 1st class. But just in case, with the Swiss Half Fare Card and Saver Day Passes, how do we properly validate our Saver Day Pass on the day of travel to avoid potential fines by Train Conductors/Inspectors? Also, we got a couple more questions as follows and hope you wouldn’t mind:

Could you please advise what the best route(s) would take us from Zurich Airport to Grindelwald on/after 13:00pm, and also the best routes on/after 11am from Grindelwald to Zurich HB?
We also bought a Saver Day Pass on a Saturday, intend to DIY visit Mount Tiltis as well as Lucerno City. Could we use Saver Day Pass to cover our transportation to/back from Mount Tiltis? and if yes, which route would be more appropriate for Sat morning trip there?
Thanks again for your help and advice!

Krist

You do not need to validate your passes. They have already the date of validity on them. All you need to do is have them with you when you board a train (or tram or bus…) and when requested show them to the ticket inspector.

The nicest route to Grindelwald from Zurich would be via Luzern. So just travel Zurich - Luzern - Interlaken - Grindelwald. The direct route is however faster. See www.sbb.ch where you can add a via in order to force a detour.

Your Saver Day Pass will cover you till the Titlis Valley station. You will have to buy a ticket for the Titlis Cable car as it is not included.
Best route you can again find on www.sbb.ch

Tip: The Saver Day Pass is valid on Lake Luzern steamers, and is valid on the Rigi Railways, so maybe make most use of it, and do a nice trip Luzern - Weggis - Rigi and back.

aptli

Krist Great! Noted; thank you very much, for your help and advice, and tips!

FNS

Krist Good tip on the Luzern - Weggis - Rigi, I’ve a saver day pass and will be staying in Luzerne for a 4 hours before I head back to Kriens. Two questions:

When you said Rigi, did you mean Rigi Kulm?
Apart from visiting the Chapel bridge, I’d like to take a boat ride in the lake. Do you have a suggested route for the boat ride that can be managed in that small time?

RolandP

Hello FNS

The mountain top station is named ‘Rigi Kulm’,

Most people go to Rigi using the boats to Vitznau, and from there the cog wheel trains up to Rigi Kulm.

Your itinerary apoears very rushy.

Kind regards,
Roland

FNS

RolandP Ronald, thanks for clarifying this. I do agree it’s rushy, so I won’t rush (i.e try to take train to top of Rigi)
Instead, do you have a recommendation on a nice scenic boatride options from and back from Luzerne? That way I think we can have a relaxed time for 1-2 hours
(will reach Luzerne at 5:30pm and ideally want to be back to Kriens by 9pm)

RolandP

Hello FNS

You can do one of the multiple round trips, e.g.

to Weggis, and back or
to Vitznau, and back

When is your trip going to happen?

Kind regards,
Roland

FNS

RolandP 3rd September. We could have spent more time at Luzerne but first we have to go and put our luggage at our hotel in Kriens then come back to Luzerne for the evening. I don’t think traveling with a stroller and a large check back in Luzerne is something that will be enjoyable, haha!

RolandP

Hello FNS

Where in Kriens? Ibis near Kriens Mattenhof? You will pass that station by train when travelling from Interlaken.

There are XXL lockers at the station of Lucerne, on platform 14.

Lucerne would actually deserve two days: one for the city, and one for the lake / Rigi visit 🙂

Until 8 September, there is the sunset cruise on Lake Lucerne; the boat will be back in Lucerne at 21:47 only.

Kind regards,
Roland

FNS

RolandP We are actually coming from Lugano, so first we’ll come to Lucerne station and change trains to Kriens. We are staying near Matenhoff station.
You gave me a great idea. Instead of going to Kriens and coming back to Luzerne again, I can save a lot of time if I place my luggage in the locker.
As per this page, it seems the lockers are available 24/7 but it’s in platform 15

RolandP

Hello FNS

I do work in the station of Lucerne, I am one of those guys being there wearing a yellow vest.

The XXL lockers are likely to be available again at night, they are often all taken during the day. Nowadays everyone is travelling with an XXL suitcase.

Tracks 14/15 share the same platform, however the sign for track 15 is barely visible when arriving on platforms 3 to 10, while the sign for plattform 14 is well noticable, thus I said platform 14.

FNS

RolandP Thanks for clarifying the platform number!
Is there any way I can pre-book a locker, either by calling or online? I wonder if I should try my luck as I think It’ll arrive at the Luzern station around 4:10pm.

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